Beaches and Islands

Holiday Destination of the Year - BBC Countryfile Awards 2017

With more than 30 miles of beaches, a galapagos of islands, hidden coves and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Northumberland coast is simply spectacular.

From stretches of hard, flat sand, perfect for sandcastles, tiny sheltered gems ideal for cosy picnics or vast breaker-blasted expanses for invigorating walks with the dog, Northumberland has the beach for you.

There are jolly seaside towns and villages to explore. Tuck into fish and chips on a warm bench at Amble overlooking the harbour. Try a pint of local ale outside a traditional seaside pub in Low Newton-by-the-Sea and enjoy a cone of homemade ice cream in the sunshine at Cresswell.

Hailed as the jewels in Northumberland’s crown, iconic castles stand guard along the coast. Few sights compare to drinking in the view of Bamburgh Castle at dusk, a vista recently voted one of Britain’s finest.

There’s wildlife aplenty too, with an array of birds, mammals, flora and fauna as diverse as the scenery to be found here.

Go bird watching at the national nature reserve on Holy Island or head to hides at Druridge Bay and Craster, where waders, geese and ducks feed.

Take a boat trip to the Farne Islands to see thousands of seabirds including the colourful puffin as well as the UK’s largest grey seal colony. Rated as one of the top wildlife experiences in the country keep an eye out for dolphins, whales and porpoises too.

Be as active as you like. Take a dip in the sheltered waters of Beadnell Bay, go wild swimming at Holy Island or try your hand at kite surfing or body boarding. Head to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea to skim the sea on a windsurfer or fulfill a lifelong ambition to gallop along the beach on horseback at Seahouses.

Stride out along the Northumberland Coast Path, a dramatic section of the North Sea Trail, hugging the coastline for 64-miles from Cresswell in the south to Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north. Once in Berwick enjoy the promenade pier and lighthouse and not one but four golden sandy beaches.

Search for fossils at Cocklawburn beach and cycle from there along virtually traffic-free paths south to Holy Island or north to Berwick.

Or sit back and watch the children construct sandcastles of epic proportions, enjoy the feel of the sand beneath your feet and the smell of the sea.

Dogs are allowed on all Northumberland’s beaches throughout the year, with the exception of Newbiggin.